Mauricio Pochettino looks certain to be the next Chelsea manager following reports he had agreed terms to replace Graham Potter.
The former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain boss has been the leading candidate for the role for some time and will takeover at Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Pochettino is said to be 'excited' by the prospect of becoming Chelsea manager and an announcement is looking increasingly likely this week. With that said football.london has rounded up all the latest news linking him to the role at SW6.
READ MORE: Mauricio Pochettino made three Premier League decisions before Chelsea agreement
Flying to London
According to The Telegraph, Pochettino will fly to London this week from Barcelona to sign his contract at Chelsea.
It's said the 51-year-old will spend most of the summer evaluating his playing squad, with reducing the size of the squad the priority.
Contract details
Todd Boehly has reportedly gone against his method of offering managers long-term contracts. The US billionaire handed Graham Potter a five-year contract, resulting in an expensive pay-out.
With Pochettino, it's expected he will sign an initial three-year contract in SW6, according to The Telegraph.
Premier League decision
Pochettino will return to the Premier League after four years, but he could have returned sooner. According to the BBC, the Argentine received job offers from across Europe with Benfica, Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla, Villarreal and Nice all approaching him after he left PSG.
Premier League clubs also showed interest in Pochettino with Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Leeds all having considered approaching the 51-year-old as their new manager - although Forest ended up sticking with promotion-winning boss Steve Cooper - while Villa and Leeds appointed Unai Emery and Javi Gracia respectively.
Deal 'agreed'
football.london understands that a deal has been agreed for Pochettino to join Chelsea. It comes just hours after Frank Lampard lead the Blues to a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.
The 51-year-old will takeover at the end of this season and have a full pre-season to prepare for the new campaign. An announcement regarding the deal is expected extremely soon.
Announcement expected 'this week'
According to The Athletic, after a comprehensive search led by sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, a final decision is set to be made in the days ahead and an announcement will follow in due course.
The strong favourite to be appointed at Stamford Bridge remains Mauricio Pochettino. Lampard will stay in his post for Chelsea’s last four Premier League fixtures and collaborate with Stewart, Winstanley and the next boss ahead of that person assuming their role in the summer.
football.london reported earlier this month that talks have been positive between Chelsea and Pochettino despite no agreement being reached yet.
Chelsea make offer
Chelsea look to have taken a huge step in appointing Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager, according to a new report.
As per the Telegraph, an offer, in broad terms, has been made to Pochettino and that Chelsea remain optimistic that the details of the deal will be agreed
Pochettino stance on job
Despite Chelsea's ongoing struggles, the frontrunner for the vacancy Mauricio Pochettino is "thought to be excited by the challenge", according to the Telegraph.
The former Tottenham manager is still in negotiations to become the Blues' new head coach but the report also states "final details" are the only thing left to be resolves
Mauricio Pochettino posts double Instagram clue
Mauricio Pochettino continues to be very active on social media as Chelsea edge closer to making a decision regarding the vacant manager position at Stamford Bridge.
The former Tottenham and Paris Saint-Germain boss has now posted pictures of him enjoying his time away from football as he met up with his two sons, Sebastiano and Maurizio. Pochettino posted a second picture of the three of them with Pochettino's wife enjoying some family time together.
The picture includes a message that read: "Catching up with my boys." Pochettino has worked with his son, Sebastiano, who is a sports scientist.
Kyle Walker makes Pep Guardiola and Pochettino claim
Manchester City star Kyle Walker has already told Chelsea why they must appoint Mauricio Pochettino as their next manager. The England international played under Pochettino during his time at Tottenham Hotspur before moving to the Etihad Stadium.
Walker excelled under Pochettino before moving to City, where he has evolved his game even further under the guidance of Pep Guardiola. When asked who he thinks is the best manager he has played under, the City defender told the Official Manchester City Podcast: "It’s between [Mauricio] Pochettino and Pep [Guardiola.
"I think Pep has evolved my game and my understanding in terms of wasting energy where I don’t need to end it. I signed as a wing-back and now I’m in a back three.
"Would I have been able to do that with England if I was still under the Pochettino system? No, I would have been too attacking.”
Sources have told football.london that there is still nothing to report regarding an imminent agreement between Chelsea and Pochettino - despite a number of positive talks between the two parties.
Cryptic hint
Pochettino has taken to social media to update fans on his whereabouts and actions but not in the way that fans might wish. In an image put on his Instagram story, Pochettino posted a snap of him out walking his Rhodesian ridgeback puppy, Sana Mandela.
The dog has its own Instagram page and was pictured out on the beach with the message captioned: "Morning walk [sunshine emoji] with Sansa. [red heart emoji]."
Although it isn't stated, the image appears to match-up to reports of having talks with Chelsea in Barcelona. Pochettino, who used to manage Espanyol - a team that play in the city - has been known to spend time in Catalonia and, most interestingly of all, has plenty of beaches!
Todd Boehly given Mauricio Pochettino announcement timeline
The Blues have now been given a timeline regarding Pochettino's potential announcement as the new manager at Stamford Bridge. It is expected that there will be no announcement ahead of Chelsea's crucial Premier League fixture against Arsenal on Tuesday night - although some reports have suggested the former Spurs boss could be at the Emirates Stadium for the game.
Whilst confirmation is unlikely to come before Tuesday, that is not to say that contract terms could not be discussed behind the scenes. Frank Lampard will hope he can pick up his first win after returning to Chelsea as caretaker boss on Tuesday, but a permanent replacement for Potter seems to be getting closer to being announced.
Chelsea officials to meet in Los Angeles as job offer prepared
Mauricio Pochettino could be offered the Chelsea job by Saturday night as senior figures from the west London club are set to meet in Los Angeles to make a final decision on the head coach vacancy, according to The Times.
Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, the co-owners, have been determined to get this decision right after the failure of Potter’s tenure. Chelsea’s co-sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, have been leading the process, with support from Boehly and Eghbali.
A meeting has been scheduled for today (Saturday, April 29) in LA where they aim to reach a unanimous decision on the appointment before making a contractual offer. Pochettino is working without an agent and is representing himself in the talks.
He has held multiple discussions with the recruitment team, which have included advanced talks on his backroom staff and changes to the squad this summer.
Pochettino makes Chelsea demand
Pochettino wants assistant Jesus Perez and goalkeeper coach Toni Jimenez with him at Chelsea if he is offered the job, according to The Daily Mail. The Argentine also would like his eldest son Sebastiano, who worked on his staff at Spurs and PSG.
He is also keen to bring Steve Hitchen, formerly chief scout at Tottenham, into the fray at Stamford Bridge.
Agreement latest
There is still no agreement in place between Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino despite confidence being high that a deal can be struck between both parties, football.london understands. Any deal for Pochettino to take over at Chelsea is likely to be at the end of the season, despite increasing pressure over the tenure of Frank Lampard after going winless in his first five fixtures.
Crucial talks held
football.london understands that Chelsea held very positive talks with Mauricio Pochettino and his entourage on Monday night regarding the vacant manager's position at Stamford Bridge. Monday evening proved highly significant in Chelsea's continued search for a new permanent head coach.
Major Pochettino to Chelsea update
Chelsea are closing in on appointing Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach, according to the Guardian.
The job is not yet believed to be confirmed as his but a series of positive talks have unequivocally placed the Argentine as the front-runner. If all goes to plan, confirmation of his arrival to be the permanent successor to Graham Potter could come soon.
Boehly pleased by fan reception
The reservations held regarding Mauricio Pochettino's links to Tottenham are said to be no longer prominent. According to Evening Standard, the Blues hierarchy have been encouraged by the reaction of their fanbase, with most broadly receptive to the Argentine joining.
Positive talks
Chelsea's talks with Mauricio Pochettino regarding the vacant head coach role have been positive, football.london understands.
The Argentine has been out of a job since leaving Paris Saint-Germain last summer, despite winning the French league title with the club the season before. Pochettino, who managed Tottenham for over five years between 2014 and 2019, has been linked with numerous roles since leaving PSG but is said to be waiting out for the right job to come his way.
football.london understands Chelsea and Pochettino have held talks recently over the vacant head coach role and they have been seen as positive by both parties. The club's board are huge admirers of Pochettino and his qualities, and even met with the former Spurs boss following the departure of Thomas Tuchel last year but ended up appointing Graham Potter instead.
Players' stance
Mauricio Pochettino seems to be edging closer to becoming the next permanent manager of Chelsea. The former Tottenham boss has now emerged as the frontrunner to take over at Stamford Bridge after Julian Nagelsmann pulled out of the running.
The Argentine has been unemployed since leaving Paris Saint-Germain last summer, despite guiding the French giants to the Ligue 1 title the season before. His name has been linked with the vacancy since Graham Potter was sacked on April 2, with co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart conducting a thorough process.
football.london understands that the club have held positive talks with Pochettino regarding taking over from Potter. The Blues hierarchy are huge admirers of the 51-year-old and his qualities.
And the possible appointment of the ex-Spurs boss has reportedly excited the Chelsea squad. According to The Telegraph, the players are said to be positive about his potential arrival in the summer.
Nagelsmann out gives Pochettino boost
Julian Nagelsmann withdrawing from the race to be Chelsea's next manager has handed Mauricio Pochettino a major boost.
According to the Telegraph, the chances of the Argentine becoming the head coach of the Blues ahead of the 2023/24 season could 'accelerate' with further talks planned in the coming days.
Why Chelsea want Pochettino
As per the Times, Mauricio Pochettino has a lot of admirers at Chelsea given his previous work in developing young players.
His time at London rivals Tottenham has presented some cause for concern, but his 'ability and pedigree' are said to outweigh those worries.
Pochettino on four-man shortlist
Mauricio Pochettino was joined by Julian Nagelsmann, Vincent Kompany and an unknown manager on Todd Boehly's four-man shortlist.
Nagelsmann is now out of the running which has given Pochettino an increased chance of being named as Graham Potter's successor in west London.
Pochettino contact
Chelsea have made a fresh approach for Mauricio Pochettino, as revealed by the Telegraph, with the former Tottenham boss potentially going back on a claim made in 2019 that he could never work for the fierce rivals of a club he previously was manager of.
Prior to the appointment of Graham Potter, Pochettino was interviewed by Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali with the co-controlling owners left impressed by the Argentine.
Jobs he will not take
Pochettino has already been vocal about the type of job he won't take, even listing certain teams that he will never be in charge of. Before managing at Paris Saint-Germain and during his time in North London, the Argentine said: "I am so clear. I am never going to be manager of Barcelona or Arsenal because I am so identified with Tottenham and Espanyol. It’s not down to me. Always I work like I want to be here for the rest of my life. That is my responsibility, how I take my job.
"The way I work is like thinking I’m going to stay forever in the same club. It’s the best way to commit to your job. But I am realistic and today you look in England from the beginning of the season and today in six, seven months, there are many changes on the Premier League benches.
"Then it’s not only you. It’s about the results, the ideas, it’s the chairman, he can change, the chairman and say 'come on, out'."
In another interview he has also said, "Football is timing. It's the moments for it to coincide and for that marriage to happen. Sometimes it's just a matter of timing. I don't believe that trains pass just once."
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